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Original poster

Whiffy armpit update

209 replies

JessiCake · 15/09/2017 19:31

A brief new thread, just so anybody interested (I still can't believe how many of you were nice enough to post with advice!!) doesn't have to trawl through.

Staggeringly, it seems as if a mere switch to SOAP has pretty much done the trick Shock

I've not even broken out the new deodorant yet because I've washed with soap these past two mornings and even with my old deodorant I am fresher at 7.30pm than I was at 9.30am that morning I posted.

Only change - soap instead of shower gel.

I can't believe I have let my lovely tops get whiffy all these years when it was a simple a solution as that!!!

I will def try the new deodorants (Sure is my first one to try out) as the problem isn't TOTALLY solved (about 80% improved, though) and I've had relatively non-busy/running aorund days, so I would want a strong, reliable deodorant for a busy or warm day.

But really, for any other sufferers, I had to start a new thread just to say SOAP SOAP SOAP.

What the hell is (or is not) IN shower gel, that it does such a crap job?

Massive thanks again to everyone.

Yours un-whiffily Grin
Jessicake

OP posts:
Hayesking · 21/09/2017 08:03

I love this

And you can get it in a liquid form for those who prefer a shower gel type dispenser. Expensive though.

HateSummer · 21/09/2017 08:05

I knew it would help!! Shower gel is a waste of money; haven't used it in years now.

MyCatIsASpy · 21/09/2017 08:08

so is soap a completely different thing to shower gel?

MoreTeaPenguin · 21/09/2017 08:22

For clearing up spots a tea tree soap is excellent. I cried when the body shop stopped making tea tree soap (the shop assistant was very kind but must have thought it was a bit of an overreaction!). But now you can get it all over the place - I use the Sainsbury's one www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/soap-handwash/sainsburys-tea-tree-cleansing-bar-soap-125g

woodhill · 21/09/2017 11:13

Is soap more drying for skin than shower gels hence the popularity

treaclesoda · 21/09/2017 14:30

I've always found soap far less drying than shower gel. Smile

IdontlooklikeEmmaWatson · 21/09/2017 14:39

Are Lush soaps any good?

TheLegendOfBeans · 21/09/2017 14:47

Not in my experience.

Haffiana · 21/09/2017 15:00

so is soap a completely different thing to shower gel?

Yes it is different. Soap is technically speaking the sodium salt of a fatty acid for example Sodium Palmate. Shower gel is a detergent (or mix of detergents) such as Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Cocamidopropyl Betaine. Both soaps and detergents are surfactants and both work in a similar way.

Detergents are good cleaners. If you washed your pits with Fairy washing up liquid I don't think you would have any problem at all with your deodorant not working afterwards (haven't tried this btw!). The problem comes (imo) from all the other stuff that is added to shower gel to make it feel nice and non drying etc etc. These 'conditioning agents' are what leaves a residue.

Look at it this way - the purpose of a soap or detergent is to clean. They are effective at removing or washing off grease and oil from skin. In order to add anything to a wash-off product that stays behind after use and feels moisturising, then the thing you add needs to resist being washed off. The thing I most dislike about shower gels is that feeling that they have not rinsed off. This is because they haven't. They also don't actually moisturise - they are there to 'feel' moisturising but they aren't really. But they stay on your skin.

PacificDogwod · 21/09/2017 17:22

The popularity of shower gels are (as so many things) a triumph of marketing and advertising over actual fact and common sense.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 21/09/2017 19:47

I got some lavender and lemon organic soap from boots the other day, just to try instead of shower gel after reading this thread. I'l tell you what I HAVE noticed - I hardly need to dry myself when I get out. I air dry super fast compared to with shower gel. So my bath towels are a lot less damp after a shower too! All good so far.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 21/09/2017 19:50

AND....I have scoffed at my parents for years at using soap, and called them old-fashioned! Shock
They were right all along!

Original poster
JessiCake · 21/09/2017 20:28

Wow curlyhaired assassin, I love the sound of your lemon and lavender soap, will look that one up. Boots you say?

Thank you Haffiana for the explanation, I'm completely fascinated by that kind of thing and all the more so now I can actually see/feel/smell the results.

Still sticking with my trusty Imperial Leather (cos I got a 4-pack and only one bar down so far) but am going to branch out and investigate other brands/scents/types when I next stock-up.

OP posts:
Original poster
JessiCake · 21/09/2017 20:32

Was it this one curlyhaired assassin?

www.boots.com/toiletries/washing-bathing/soap-hand-wash/little-soap-co-organic-english-lavender-and-citrus-110g-10187107

Looks absolutely yum, may treat myself...

There's something so incredibly pleasurable too (or is this just me) about the act of opening and handling a bar of soap, rather than plasticky old shower gel...

OP posts:
Ktown · 21/09/2017 22:19

Agree with the triumph of marketing.
Everyone goes on about how soap 'breaks down the acid mantle' and we should use face wash instead. It is a nonsense since you don't leave soap on your face - you wash it off.
Only thing that gets rid of spots and blackheads.

BaconAndBees · 21/09/2017 22:31

Haffiana. Was it you who advised vinegar on the armpits of clothes once? If it was then Flowers

BaconAndBees · 21/09/2017 22:32

... pre washing, before anyone goes out smelling like a chip shop.

TheMightyMing · 21/09/2017 22:34

Yy to white vinegar in a spray bottle , it really does work

Tantpoke · 21/09/2017 23:29

T K Maxx always have a lovely selection of soaps so its a great excuse to have a meander in that section and come away with some gorgeous yet inexpensive useful soaps.

My DS and I after a week of soaping our pits are astounded that we are totally whiff free, cursing the shower gel.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 21/09/2017 23:38

Jessi, yes, that's the one. The smell isn't that strong though if that's what you want. Suits me cos I don't like strong fake scents.

chewiecat · 22/09/2017 07:48

My DH has really whiffy pits! How do I convince him to change to soap without embarrassing him Blush

PurplePillowCase · 22/09/2017 07:55

just don't buy any more?
or if he's hung up on liquid stuff, refill a bottle with washing up liquid?

chocolatespiders · 22/09/2017 07:55

I have a bar ofor cidal on the go. But in the cupboard I have four unopened bars of sanex. After reading this I just had to open it and try as I have been desperate to try my new find but wanted to wait till cidal ran out I couldn't wait any longer.

Waitrose do a good range of soap.

BrokeAndBad · 22/09/2017 07:57

I bought soap last night after reading this thread!

Interestingly I remember watching a TV program once that test the efficiency of A) Soap B)Liquid hand wash soap C) antibacterial gel

Soap won the test for cleanliness!

The liquid soap and antibacterial gel still cleaned but not as well as the soap!

NeonFlower · 22/09/2017 08:30

I 'casually mentioned' this story to the family and placed some bar soap in the teens shower.

I have been one of those people who smells more with shower gels and had mostly stopped using them, just showering with water and using some coconut oil to clean more sometimes. But my skin needed more cleaning. But now I am using a body shop shea soap I have had for a while and yippee no whiff.

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